CA's Political Mugs

LAPD Officer Joe Buscaino and Assemblyman Warren Furutani will square off Jan. 17 in a runoff election. Eleven candidates were running for the seat in a district that stretches from Watts to San Pedro.

Buscaino led with 29 percent of the vote. Furutani claimed 22 percent. About 16 percent of registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday's election.

Neither candidate received 50 percent of the vote, requiring the January runoff.

The seat was left vacant in July when Hahn was elected to Congress to replace Jane Harman, who stepped down to join at foreign policy group in Washington.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League spent $72,285 to support Buscaino. Furutani received support from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the Teamsters and labor unions representing government workers.